Construction Jobs Growth at three-year High

Jobs in construction have grown for a third successive month in July, with the employment sub-index of the Australian Industry Group’s Performance of Construction Index rising to 59 points (where figures above 50 indicate expansion).

The surge of 4.8 points from June shows a faster rate of growth in the month; July’s growth in employment was the highest in almost three years.

Also in July, wages growth continued, and is at a higher rate than in June, with the wages sub-index rising by 3.7 points to 64.6 points. This indicates the fastest rate of expansion in construction wages since August 2016, according to the AIG, which said the main drivers were wage increases still flowing from existing EBAs, and difficulties in filling various skilled vacancies.